Cutlery utensil dispensing apparatus and method
US8070013B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 6, 2009 |
| Grant date | Dec 6, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47F2001/103
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
A cutlery utensil dispenser has a dispensing tray with a floor and a region housing a cutlery utensil. The cutlery utensil has first and second portions and is moved by an engagement portion of an actuator from a first orientation to a second orientation. In the first orientation, the cutlery utensil rests on the floor in the region and is within the cutlery utensil dispenser, inaccessible to a user. In the second orientation, the second portion of the cutlery utensil projects from the cutlery utensil dispenser and is accessible to the user. A wall of the region has a fulcrum end dimensioned to engage the cutlery utensil. The cutlery utensil rotates about the fulcrum end responsive to the engagement portion toward an exit of the dispenser.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.